Dry closet incinerator



May 20, .1958 v G. o. HARM 2,835,215

' DRY CLOSET INCINERATOR- Filed Feb. 9. 1956 6 Sheets-Sheet 1 IN VEN TOR..

. a 6201265 O-HAPM.

A TI'OENE Y5 M 1953 G. o. HARM 'DRY CLOSET INCINERATOR 6 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Feb. 9, 1956 INVENTOR. GEORGE O-HAIEM- A wave rs May 20, 1958 Filed Feb. 9, 1956 6 Sheets-Sheet 3 INVENTOR. GEORGE O- HARM BY E/cHE Y, WA 7715, E06EE7'0NJ MS/VEMV) ATTORNEYS May 20, 1958 e. o. HARM DRY CLOSET INCINERATOR 6 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed Feb. 9, 1956 -2 INVENTOR. 2 6501265 0- HARM.

y 1958 cs. 0. HARM 2,835,215

DRY CLOSET INCINERATOR Filed Feb. 9, 1956 6 Sheets-Sheet 5 4 INVENTOIL 6150265 0. HAEM 6 Sheets-Sheet 6 Filed Feb. 9. 1956 BY EICHE WA rrs, spanzrolvmw 'NENN Y United States Patent 2,835,215 DRY CLOSET INCINERATOR George 0. Harm, Shaker Heights, Ohio Application February 9, 1956, Serial No. 564,433

6 Claims. (Cl. 110-9) This invention relates to apparatus for utilizing the heat generated by the burner in a closet incinerator assembly.

The invention pertains to improvements in my copending application entitled Dry Closets, filed December 28, 1955, Serial No. 555,892.

One of the objects of the invention is to provide an organization of conduits coupled with the incinerator and stack, associated therewith, to conduct the heated air generated by the incinerator burner into a building heating system. i

Another object of the invention is to provide a thermal control mechanism for the incinerator burner to regulate the operation thereof when the closet is not in use.

Further objects of the invention reside in the provision of an incinerator heating system which is constructed to inhibit the dissipation of offensive odors, an apparatus which is efficient of operation, and a device which is designed for ready access to the parts thereof for the purpose of renewal or repair.

Other objects and advantages more or less ancillary to the foregoing, and the manner in which all the various objects are realized, will appear in the following description, which considered in connection with the accompanying drawings, sets forth the preferred embodiment of the invention.

Referring to the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a plan View of the closet;

Fig. 2 is a side view thereof;

Fig. 3 is a vertical section of the closet, the section being taken on a plane indicated by the line 33 in Fig. 4;

Fig. 4 is a transverse sectional view of the closet, the section being taken on a plane indicated by the line 4-4 in Fig. 3; i

Fig. 5 is a vertical sectional view of the closet, the section being taken on a plane indicated by the line 5-5 in Fig. 3;

Fig. 6 is a sectional View, partially in elevation, of a detail of the roller actuating mechanism, the section being taken on a plane indicated by the line 6-6 in Fig. 4;

Fig. 7 is a side elevational view, partially in section of the closet, incinerator and stack, the section being taken on the line 77 of Fig. 8;

Fig. 8 is a side elevational view thereof, partially in section, illustrating in greater detail the structure of the stack, the section being indicated by the line 8-8 in Fig. 7;

Fig. 9 is an elevational view, partially in section through the incinerator charging port, the section being indicated by the line 99 in Fig. 7;

Fig. 10 is a sectional view through the incinerator, the section being taken on a plane indicated by the line Iii-10 in Fig. 9;

Fig. 11 is a transverse sectional view of the incinerator, the section being indicated by the line 1111 in Fig. 9;

Fig. 12 is an elevational view of a fragmentary portion of the valve plate operating mechanism; and

Fig. 13 is a diagram of the electric wiring system for the incinerator control mechanism.

Referringfirst to Figs. 1 and 2, the unit comprises a closet 10 having an incinerator 11 attached thereto, an.

exhaust pipe or stack 12 therefor, and a heat conduit 13 coupled with the incinerator stack.

The closet comprises generally, a prismoidal body having a depending oval bowl 114 and a rectangular housing 15 protruding from the rearward portion thereof. The bowl is provided with a frame 16 (Fig. 3) fulcrumed adjacent the top of the housing and inclined forwardly and downwardly to the base of the bowl. The frame is provided with rollers 17 in the forward lower end thereof for the support of a roll of water repellent paper 18 having a strand thereof roved over a plate 19 mounted in the upper forward end of the bowl and inclined downwardly and rearwardly to the base thereof. The lower ends of the plate 19 are folded upwardly to form vertical side walls 20, and guide plates 21 are attached to the upper end of the plate to direct the paper through the folded section or trough 22. The plate, as folded, is of triangular form, the center section thereof passing through an opening 23 in the frame 16. The frame 16 is provided with a pair of spaced vertically disposed rollers 24 rotated towards each other by the impinged engagement of a belt 25 with the paper and the upper ends of the rollers. A pair of pulleys 26 are mounted on a bell crank 27 fulcrumed on a shaft 28 in the housing 15. A ratchet wheel 29 is affixed to one of the pulleys, and a pawl 30, engaged with the teeth in the ratchet, is mounted on an arm 31 secured to a shaft 32. The outer end of the shaft 32 is provided with a handllever 33 to facilitate the actuation of the roller drive mechanism. When the lever is depressed, the ratchet will effect the rotation of the pulley, the translation of the belt, and the consequent rotation of the rollers which feeds the folded strip of paper and the fecal matter thereon, through the trough 22 and into the incinerator 11. is looped and formed into a relatively thin strip, the material is subject to ready combustion when subjected to the fiame from the nozzle 34 (Fig. 8) in the firing chambers 35 of the incinerator.

As will be seen in Figs. 2 and 7, the charging port 36 of the incinerator, is provided with a valve 37 to arrest the flow of the heated air back into the closet. The valve 3'1 comprises a stationary plate padded. with a resilient fire repellent material, and an opposed similar reciprocat-.

ing plate interlinked with the roller drive shaft 32 for lateral movement of the movable plate towards and away from the stationary plate of the valve 37 upon operation of the roller actuating mechanism. The pads are formed with relieved ends 38 (Fig. 9) to prevent complete closure of the folded paper strip and thus facilitating drainage of liquids deposited on the paper, and/or extruded from the fecal matter. The charging port 36 terminates above an evaporating pan 39 in the incinerator 11. The pan is disposed so that the major portion of the flame will sweep the base thereof and the upper part of the flame will be directed over the top of the pan.

As will be seen in Figs. 7 and 8, the combustion chamber 35 of the incinerator 11, is formed with an inner cas double wall structure of the combustion chamber and the unbroken circulation of air through the cavity 42 as indicated by the arrows.

Air enters ports 49 in the housing 41, flows through the cavity 43 and the chamber 40, where it is drawn into the central opening in the blower40a. Under the pres- Since the paper strandsure induced by the blower, aportion of the air enters the combustion chamber flows around the fuel nozzle 34, and another portion of the air stream enters the cavity 42 from the base of the casing of the blower and circulates about the combustion chamber, through the cavity 42, and into the conduit 13, which passes through the housing 41. The heated gases of combustion are drawn into the stack 12 where they commingle with the unburnt fuel from the nozzle 34 and are rebu-rnt, thus destroying any remaining odor therein.

The stack 12 and the surrounding conduit 13 enter a heat exchanger housing 46. Within the confines of the housing, a portion of the conduit 13 is broadened, then continues upwardly and terminates beyond the end of the stack. At the point of termination 51 of the stack 12, the conduit has a reduced throat 52 which causes a venturi action or suction of the exhaust gases in the stack 12.

The volumetric capacity of the combustion chamber 35 is smaller than normally required to effect full combustion of thefuel directed by the nozzle 34 against the evaporating pan 39. Hence, a delayed burning of the molecules of oil suspended in air occurs in the lower portion of the stack 12. Such after-burning consumes and destroys the odor of the fumes released from the initial firing.

A blower 48, driven by a motor 50, draws fresh air from atmosphere and delivers it through openings 47 in the housing 46, and circulates the air around the extended section of the conduit 13 and the stack 12 absorbing heat therefrom and directing it through conduits SS-into a room or rooms to be heated. A conduit 53, protruding beyond the heated enclosure, contains a valve 54 for the release of heated air generated by the use of the closet when such heated air is not required for room heating purposes.

Referring to Fig. 13, the blower 400, fuel pump 89, valve 90 therefor, and the lighter or ignition device 91 are automatically controlled through an electric timer 100 actuated from a starting switch 101 coupled with the hand lever 33 and the linkage 70 and 73. As will be seen in Fig. 9, the end of the bar 70 is arranged to abut the stem of the switch 101, which is normally held in its open position by a spring. When the switch is closed, current from the power line 104 will flow through the line 105, the switch 101, the timing motor 106 and to the ground line 107, thus exciting the motor and initiating the rotation of a sweep arm 103 in the timer 100. The sweep arm 108 is formed with a broad land 118 on the free end thereof. As the land 1'18 leaves the switch 119, which is closed under the influence of a spring therein, current from the line 104 will flow through the line 110, switch 119, and the line 105 to the timing motor 106, thence to the ground line 107. Such action assures the continued operation of the timer. When the sweep arm reaches the switch 109, the plunger therein will be actuated to close the circuit through the lines 104, 110, 111, and 112 to the motor 113 for the blower a, fuel pump 89 and ignition device 91, and thence to the ground line 107. It will also actuate the motor that drives the blower 43. When the arm 108 reaches the spring pressed switch 115, current from the line 104 will flow through the line 116, the switch 115, and the continuation of the line 116 to a solenoid 117 for the fuel valve 90. This valve is normally held in its closed position by a spring, but is held open by the solenoid 117 while the current flows through line 116, the solenoid, and the continuation of the line 116 to the ground line 107. The land 118 further maintains the switch 115 in its closed position for a period of time sufficient for the flame to expand the switch rod 11 in the switch 120 and thereby maintain the valve 90 in an open position. The switch rod 114, for the switch 120, is formed of an expandable material which is disposed in the path of the flame from the burner. When the switch rod is heated and expanded, the switch 120 is closed and the current will flow through the lines 104, 130, switch 122 and line 121, the switch 120' and the lines 121 and 116, thus holding the solenoid 117 for the valve in an open position.

In the event the flame goes out in the incinerator, the rod 114 in the switch will contract and open the circuit to the solenoid valve 117, thus breaking the circuit from the lines 104, 130, switches 122, 120 to the line 121, thus shutting off the fuel. The circuit through the switch 115,. has by this time been broken by the movement of the sweep arm 108. When the flame is burning, as in normal operation, with the switch 120 closed, the continued movement of the sweep arm 108 will engage and open a spring pressed switch 122, thus breaking the circuit which has been holding the solenoid 117 open and causing the valve operated thereby to close under the influence of the spring therein. The solenoid 117 cannot be reactivated during the cycle, since the rod 114 contracts when. the flame goes out and breaks the circuit in the switch- 120. When the arm reaches the switch 123, which is held open by a spring therein, the solenoid 124 in the switch 109 will open the switch and break the circuit to the motor for the blower 401:, fuel pump 89 and ignitor 9.1. Current from the line 104 will, however, flow through the line 110, the switch 119,. the line 105 to the timer motor 106 which continues to run until the sweep arm 108 reaches the switch 119 and breaks the current to the line 105.

The switches 122 and 12.3, which stops the burning.

action of the fuel, are mounted on a carriage 131, rotatable from. a center common to the sweep arm 108. Accurate adjustment of the carriage 131 varies the timing cycle of combustion of the fuel.

The evaporating, pan 3-9, which is electrically insulated from the body of the incinerator, is provided with a fluid switch, comprising a pair of spaced terminals 125 defining a gap 126 which is closed when the fluid bridges the gap. When the gap is closed, the current flows from the line 104 through the line 105 and the switch gap 126, thence to the motor 106 and ground line 107, thereby starting the time cycle as previously described.

The line 105 is coupled with a thermostatic switch 132, preferably mounted in the wall of a room serviced by a conduit 55. When the temperature in the room drops.

to a predetermined point, the switch 132 closes, the current from the line 104, the line 105, the switch 132, the

line 105 (continued) to the timer motor 106 therein to the ground line 107. This starts the timing cycle as previously described. Thereafter, this cycle will be repeated until the temperature in the room reaches the predetermined setting of the thermostat.

Although the foregoing description is necessarily of a detailed character, in order that the invention may be completely set forth, it is to be understood that the specific terminology is not intended to be restrictive or confining, and that various rearrangements of parts and modifications of detail may be resorted to without departing from the scope or spirit of the invention as herein claimed.

What is claimed is:

1. An incinerator for the disposal of fecal matter enclosed in a strip of combustible paper comprising a firing chamber, a fuel nozzle in the side wall thereof adjacent the base of the chamber, a blower air passageway surrounding said nozzle, the wall of the firing chamber having a port therein at right angles to said nozzle for the admission of the strip of paper and fecal matter, means for feeding the strip of paper and fecal matter into the firing chamber and simultaneously igniting the fuel in said nozzle, an evaporating pan for the support of the paper strip and fecal matter during the combustion thereof disposed below said port and in horizontal aligned relation with said nozzle, an exhaust stack connected to said firing chamber below said pan, a casing around the walls of the firing chamber, and a conduit connected to said casing and enveloping the lower portion of said stack to carry off the heat in said firing chamber and to carry off the heat from said stack.

2. An incinerator for the disposal of fecal matter enclosed in a strip of paper comprising a firing chamber, a fuel nozzle in the side wall thereof adjacent the base of the chamber, a blower adjacent said firing chamber, an air passageway therefrom surrounding said nozzle, the wall of the firing chamber having a port therein disposed at right angles to said nozzle for the admission of the strip of paper and fecal matter, an evaporating pan for the support of the paper strip during the combustion thereof subjacent said port and in aligned relation with said nozzle, an exhaust stack connected to said firing chamber below said pan, a casing around the walls of the firing chamber, and a conduit connected to said casing and enveloping said stack to carry off the heat and fumes in said firing chamber, said stack terminating within said'casing adjacent the upper constricted end thereof.

3. An incinerator for the disposal of fecal matter enclosed in a strip of combustible paper comprising a firing chamber, a fuel nozzle protruding through a side wall thereof, a blower, an air passageway surrounding said nozzle, the wall of the firing chamber having a port therein disposed at right angles to said nozzle for the admission of the strip of paper and fecal matter, an evaporating pan in said firing chamber for the support of the paper strip and fecal matter during the combustion thereof, said evaporating pan being disposed below said port and in horizontal alignment with said nozzle, an exhaust stack connected to said firing chamber adjacent the base thereof, a casing circumambient the walls of the firing chamber, and a conduit connected to said casing and enveloping said stack, means for sustaining air pressure in said casing and stack to confine the fumes in said firing chamber and stack, said stack terminating within said conduit adjacent the end thereof.

4. An incinerator for the disposal of fecal matter enclosed in a strip of combustible paper comprising a firing chamber, a fuel nozzle protruding therein adjacent the base thereof, a passageway for air under pressure surrounding said nozzle, the firing chamber having a port therein disposed at right angles to said nozzle for the admission of the strip of paper and fecal matter, an evaporating pan in said firing chamber for the support of the paper strip and fecal matter during the combustion thereof, said pan being disposed below said port and in aligned relation with said nozzle, an exhaust stack connected to said firing chamber, a casing around the walls of the firing chamber, and a conduit connected to said casing and enveloping: said stack, said stack terminating within said conduit whereby the heat in said firing chamber is carried off by said conduit.

5. An incinerator for the disposal of fecal matter in a folded strip of combustible paper comprising a firing chamber, a fuel nozzle therein, a blower air passageway surrounding said nozzle, the wall of the firing chamber having a port therein at right angles to said nozzle for the admission of the strip of paper and fecal matter, an evaporating pan in said firing chamber for the support of the paper strip and fecal matter during the combustion thereof, said pan being disposed below said port and aligned with said nozzle, an exhaust stack connected to said firing chamber, means for operating the combustion cycle in the firing chamber, said nozzle being arranged in relation to said stack so combustion of a portion of the fuel from the nozzle will occur in the base of said stack.

6. An incinerator for the disposal of fecal matter enclosed in a strip of combustible paper comprising a firing chamber, a fuel nozzle therein adjacent the base of the chamber, a passageway for air under pressure surrounding said nozzle, the wall of the firing chamber having a port therein at right angles to said nozzle for the admission of the strip of paper and fecal matter, an evaporating pan for the support of the paper strip and fecal matter during the combustion thereof disposed below said port and in aligned relation with said nozzle, an exhaust stack connected to said firing chamber below said pan, a casing around the walls of the firing chamber, and a conduit connected to said casing and enveloping said stack, said fuel nozzle being arranged so a portion of the flame therefrom will enter said stack and combustion will continue therein, the upper end of the stack being below the end of the upper end of the conduit.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,624,681 Scott .Apr. 12, 1927 2,329,473 Landon Sept. 14, 1943 2,355,495 Zier Aug. 8, 1944 2,385,652 Rifle Sept. 25, 1945 2,646,758 Greemen July 28, 1953 2,711,139 Martin June 21, 1955 2,768,386 Graef et a1 Oct. 30, 1956 

